What Is Turkey Famous For? Top 34 Most Famous Places & Things in Turkey

Turkey is a dazzling vacation destination for tourists who love to witness ancient monuments and empires. Additionally, the vibrant culture, mesmerising landscapes and mouth-watering delicacies attract tourists from all over the world. If you are planning to visit Turkey with a limited number of days, you must know famous places in Turkey that are a must explore.

As much as Turkey is a stunning tourist destination, it is essential to plan the expenses before planning a vacation here. It can be beneficial to consider Turkish currency here. As of November 2022, 1 Turkish Lira is equal to INR 4.38. 

Below are 18 popular places that you must add to your itinerary while touring around Turkey: 

1. Hagia Sophia

If you want to explore an intellectual place in Turkey, you must visit Hagia Sophia. This UNESCO-preserved heritage site is a treasury of ancient knowledge. Here the Ottoman Turks refurbished a 6th-century church as a mosque which was later secularised. 

2. Kabak Bay

If you are bored by the hustle of city life and want to escape the same for a while, Kabak bay is the perfect choice. It is the seashore near Lycia village, which is sparsely populated. Additionally, you can try out many activities here, such as swimming, snorkelling and sunbathing on this shore. You can also relax in the tents or have a hearty meal from the restaurants nearby.

3. Topkapi Palace

While touring around Turkey, it is a must to visit Topkapi palace to have a glimpse of the royal lifestyle of the Ottomans. This palace museum has several large rooms and chambers where they display antique objects. You can also get to witness the ‘Harem’ chambers, royal treasury, Topkapi dagger, spoon maker's diamond, Ottoman clothing, armours, weapons, manuscripts and so on.

4. Mount Nemrut

This monument is the residence of King Antiochus I Theos of the Kingdom of Commagene. Here, you can witness stone heads of ancient Gods, some Greco-Persian deities, and beautiful remnants of mammoth statues.

5. Pamukkale

Pamukkale, translated as "Cotton candy", attracts tourists from all over the world due to its terraces that look like cotton. These are white in colour and appear as snow-covered terraces surrounded by lush green scenery. The main highlights of this place are hot water springs, calcite hill and white travertine terraces.

6. Blue Mosque

The attractive blue colour of this mosque is a visual delight, which accounts for it being one of the most visited tourist places in Turkey. You can visit this mosque any time during the day apart from prayer time. 

However, it is a must to follow the dress code strictly; that is, women need to cover their heads, and men need to cover their legs to enter the mosque. Also, you must pay attention to the beautiful flowery detailing on the wall of the mosque to truly experience its beauty.

7. Chora Church

This church was refurbished by the Ottoman Turks as it was formerly a Byzantine Greek Orthodox church. Later in 1948, this church was converted into a museum to preserve the 4th century finest Byzantine mosaic work and frescos. You must add this place to the list of your places to visit to witness this mesmerising architecture.

8. Grand Bazaar

If you are a shopaholic, this place is sure to mesmerise you. You can buy carpets, jewellery, Turkish crockery, exquisite antiques and Turkish Tea as souvenirs for your friends and family. The shopkeepers here keep calling you for attention. So make sure to bargain to get the best deal. While touring around Turkey, you absolutely must not miss out on this place.

9. Devrent Valley

This is a very famous valley in Turkey due to its lunar-shaped landscapes and unique rock formations. This is also called an imagination valley as you can pose with any of the rock structures looking like ladies, animals, mythological characters and fictional figures. A small tip you can follow is to be creative with poses and wear off-white coloured clothes to blend well with the surroundings.

10. Uchisar Castle

If you are touring with your lover or friends, it becomes a must to visit this castle during your trip. There are small rooms, each connected by tunnels and stairs with the other. This instils an element of fun in exploring the castle. You can also witness the mesmerising panoramic view from the top of the castle.

11. Soganli Valley

Although Soganli Valley is an abandoned town in Turkey, it is also one of the most adventurous places to explore during your trip. Here, you can witness cave churches, a top tourist attraction in Turkey. You can also hike to the churches and stroll around the valley to explore the place.

12. Love Valley

This is one of the most frequented spots by tourists during their Turkey trip. You must hike to the top of this valley to get a view of the entire valley and the fairy chimney. Also, you must keep in mind to drop a wish to the wish tree present in the love valley. Additionally, you can take several beautiful pictures for your social media. 

13. Antalya Aquarium

This is the biggest tunnel aquarium in the world that offers an exciting experience for your visit. You can learn a lot about different underwater species and the various traits associated with them. It offers a fun and learning session during your visit.

14. Kaleici

This popular old town in Antalya bestows you with experiences you must not afford to miss. You can get to see the iconic Hadrian gate, the watchtower, elevator, private beaches and bohemian cafes. Additionally, you must also watch the sunset to get a holistic experience of this place.

15. Perge

This is one of the top tourist attractions in Turkey, which is greatly influenced by Roman architecture. It serves as a perfect place for mini shoots and photography. Here you can witness the preserved Roman stadium, Roman gates and the Tomb of Plancia Magna. The ruins are well maintained for tourists from all over the world.

16. Sandland

This is a popular place for sand artists from around the globe to exhibit their sand creations. To add innovation to this place, these exhibits are fitted with LED lights to increase the visual effect. You can also try making a few sand artefacts yourselfwhen you visit this place.

17. Genclik Park

This beautiful park is present right in the centre of Ankara. You can explore a lot of fun activities such as watching a flower show, taking a roller coaster ride and more. If you are travelling with kids, then it is a must to visit this park.

18. Bursa

You can get to witness several bazaars, heritage sites, hot springs, restaurants and city walls in Bursa. These make Busra one of the popular tourist destinations in Turkey. Also, you must remember to visit the green tomb and purchase several Turkish goods from Bursa.

Apart from the popular tourist attractions, you must also experience several famous things of Turkey.

Below are 17 popular things that you must experience when in Turkey:

19. Hot Air Balloon Rides in Cappadocia

While touring around Turkey, it becomes a must to watch the sunset in a hot air balloon in Cappadocia. Additionally, you can also get to witness the open-air museum, lunar landscapes with fairy rock chimneys and the underground cities, that are an absolute delight to watch.

20. Traditional Gulet Boat and Sailing

Previously, Turks used Gulet boats to sail on the sea. Nowadays, Gulet boats are popularly utilised for day tours. If you plan your stay in an Aegean resort or a Mediterranean resort, you can get to see these boats sailing on the Turkish Riviera.

21. Famous Lycian Way Tombs

The Lycian civilisation that had once ruled Turkey left back several monuments that are a top attraction of the city. Additionally, you can get to witness the Lycian tombs that are of historical importance. You can also opt for hiking along the coastline for some adventure.

22. Turkish Cuisine

One of the most popular Turkish sweets is the baklava. It is a type of pastry filled with nuts and topped using honey. Additionally, the kebabs and rice pudding are extremely tasty and a must-try during your trip. Lokum is another popular Turkish sweet that is made with a gel of starch and sugar and coated with icing sugar.

23. Turkish Beverages

Both Turkish Tea and coffee are a must try during your trip. Turkish coffee is one of the highly consumed beverages in the world. It is traditionally prepared using finely grounded coffee powder, mixed with water until it becomes frothy and then divided into two cups. It can be a bit gritty but is a richer and well-caffeinated beverage.

24. Tulip

The Ottoman sultans highly regarded the tulip flower, and so they placed them in almost every tile of their mosques. They are also present in many souvenirs that you buy from Turkey. Additionally, there is a Tulip festival that is held in the April of every year in Istanbul.

25. Turkish Baths

While touring around Turkey, it becomes mandatory to indulge yourself in a Turkish bath. There are over 500-year-old baths in the city centre which are open to both tourists and locals. The process includes steaming, followed by a soap suds massage, and ultimately a bath to relax you completely.

26. Turkish Carpets

Also known as Anatolia rugs, these carpets are made of soft wool, superior cotton and fine silk. These are superb quality carpets with various geometrical shapes and vibrant colours. However, there are no animals or humans woven on these carpets.

27. Nazar

These are blue amulets hung all over Turkey to keep one safe from the evil eye. You can also purchase it as a souvenir for your loved ones to protect them from any unknown curse. These Nazar's look like an eye themselves to protect you from curses.

28. Turkish Towels

These towels are made of premium quality Turkish cotton with extra long fibres. Hence they can absorb more water with every wash and becomes softer. Additionally, they can dry very quickly. This makes them perfect for travelling purposes.

29. Turkish Ice Cream

These are slightly different from conventional ice creams as they are harder in texture and extremely resilient to melting. The main reason behind this is the usage of mastic and salep. Additionally, the vendor performs intriguing tricks while handing over the ice cream, which amuses their customers to a great extent.

30. Oldest Underground Train

Turkey houses the oldest underground train in the entire European continent. The Istanbul Tunnel, which opened in 1985, connects Karakoy and Pera. So, it becomes mandatory to ride through the tunnel during your Turkey trip.

31. Bosphorus Cruise

It is a must to experience a cruise ride on the Black Sea to witness beautiful sunsets and a panoramic view of Istanbul. Also, since Istanbul is spread across both Asia and Europe, you can see the sea merger. In addition, the cruise offers several lunches and dining options to tourists, along with some dance performances and private events.

32. Duden Waterfalls

This is one of the most eye-catching waterfalls in Turkey that is a must-visit while planning a trip to Turkey. This waterfall flows through a series of parks, ultimately meeting the Mediterranean Sea. There is also a cave with spiral stairs that you must explore while visiting the waterfall.

33. Atakule

This is a 125-metre tall communication and observation tower situated in the district of Cankaya. Additionally, there is a revolving rooftop restaurant where you can get several Turkish delicacies. You can also spend quality time with your loved ones in a cafe on the same floor and enjoy a hearty meal.

34. Galata tower

This is one of the oldest watch towers in Istanbul. You can get a panoramic view of the city from this tower. Additionally, there are several restaurants serving authentic Turkish dishes to treat your taste buds.

Now that you know the famous places in Turkey and the popular things to do, you can plan your trip accordingly to cover the majority of the places. Additionally, you must book your tickets at the earliest to save more on your trip.